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I set thunderbird to not download message but it does so anyway.

  • 5 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 6 views
  • Last reply by Toad-Hall

Jeremy
Jeremy
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I am running thunderbird under kubuntu linux. I have recently had to reinstall a new HDD and now thunderbird is ignoring my instructions to not check for new email and to not download anything until I tell it to. I have unticked (in Server Settings) "Check for new messages at startup" and also "Check for new messages every X minutes" I have tested this several times by sending messages to myself. They come back immediately.

I am running thunderbird under kubuntu linux. I have recently had to reinstall a new HDD and now thunderbird is ignoring my instructions to not check for new email and to not download anything until I tell it to. I have unticked (in Server Settings) "Check for new messages at startup" and also "Check for new messages every X minutes" I have tested this several times by sending messages to myself. They come back immediately.

All Replies (5)

Zenos
Zenos
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Is IMAP involved? Some servers seem to push messages rather than waiting for the client to request them. I haven't seen any way to get Thunderbird to refuse them, other than set it to offline.

Jeremy
Jeremy Question owner
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Zenos said

Is IMAP involved? Some servers seem to push messages rather than waiting for the client to request them. I haven't seen any way to get Thunderbird to refuse them, other than set it to offline.

Hello Zenos and thanks for your reply Yes, IMAP is involved. I had previously always used POP3 to retrieve emails, but I was reading up on IMAP and it seemed to be a better way to go. So I tried it but I am getting spotty results. I really don't want to have to set the server offline all the time, I want it to work properly. Maybe I should contact my ISP and see if they have a solution.

Toad-Hall
Toad-Hall
  • Top 10 Contributor
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Try: 

Tools -> Account Settings -> Server Settings

click on 'Advanced' (under the Server Settings sub-section) Uncheck the "Use IDLE command if the server supports it". click on OK

Jeremy
Jeremy Question owner
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Thank you Toad-Hall

This did go some way towards stopping the aberrant behaviour. It does stop new emails from downloading themselves whilst I stay in the inbox. However, as soon as I go to a sub folder and come back to the inbox, the mail immediately downloads.

I tested this several times by sending myself emails and then waiting for some minutes before leaving the inbox and then immediately returing to it. As soon as I return the emails download.

Toad-Hall
Toad-Hall
  • Top 10 Contributor
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Imap - obviously you have subscribed to see folders.

Do you synchronise those subscribed folders?

I'm really trying to think around the situation. Subscribed folders (not synschronised) download headers and when you select an email it is retrieved off the server and stored in a temp cache whilst in use to faciltate quicker access.

As synchronised subscribed folders actually download a copy to the Thunderbird Profile folder name Inbox and synchronising continually occurs whilst in Online mode.

So, if you synchronise those folders try disabling this feature and see what occurs. See more info explaining IMAP etc at this link under section 'Configuring synchronization and disk space usage' - uncheck 'Keep messages for this account on this computer'